Sunday, October 28, 2007

Motivation for Fatcats. The Marathon.

Tomorrow is M-Day, I collected my bib number and timing chip from the RDS yesterday afternoon. I'm going to do nowt today but eat, check the route, my clothes, my jelly collection, my route again and twitter at the paramour. I feel portly and rotund from lack of running this week, which is ridiculous as I am neither, but this must be my version of pre-race angst.

I have purchased an OMM pouch- a fanny pack to you and me. Remarkable thing the OMM, I can fit all my gels, jellies, and a small bottle of energy drink into it and it doesn't jiggle at all. So lightweight. Colour me impressed.I shall charge my iPod to the max and organise my music into running categories, 'terrible start, weeeee, tired legs, second wind, dreamy pace, steady pace, the wall, enter the dragon and the lands of Mordor.' For each of these I will have the correct soundtrack, meticulously timed to coincide with each phase as I poodle along.It is a shockingly early start tomorrow. According to my race info I am to be in town no later than eight AM, which means I must be up and eating by half six. Half six! I ask you! Who can eat at that hour? This is why I am up early today so that I might sleep tonight. It occurred to me yesterday at the RDS -as I watched groups of what I later described to Finn as 'real runners' chatting and greeting each other- that I trained alone for this marathon. But that's not true is it? I ran alone, nowt but me and the music, but actually I had you lot, you who have been hella solid in all your support as I went from huffy puffy 5k to a 30k run.The paramour has been a true buttress too, whenever I have a 'what the hell am I doing' moment, he just says, 'you can do it' and lo, I believe him. (He is going to pick me up and get me home tomorrow after I will be right as rain. And after rum and food and painkillers and more rum I should be stellar)

So I just want to say thanks again for the last few months. It sounds ridiculous but you, my interwebby chumlies, have been the most delicious support and I'm chuffed to have you. It makes a difference, oh yes, it makes all the difference in the world. YOu can do this Melvin.Mwoah Mwoah.FMC

Update- I"m back home, With mah medal! I will do proper post tomorrow, feeling fine, a bit sore and achy but also a bit high as a kite. Hit the wall slightly at 22 miles, but got through it and according to Miss Finn I finished faster than the half marathon to 30k mark, which frankly is a bit of a mystery to me. I was over the five hour mark, but as I always say, fatcats are not speedy.Thanks a million for all the good wishes, you are darlings.I must go, there is dinner and rum.

36 Comments:

Best luck tomorrow, sweetheart. I'll be thinking of you as you beat down the miles.

I'm off my head at the moment - it's 3.32 and I've just got in after stellar night at the bar. And as you know we Celts are inclined to the maudlin in the wee, potent hours but I'll try to keep it to a minimum: You're the best fmc, the best. You're my first port of call every day and you'vr come such a long way in training for this marathon. Bloody inspiration is what you are. Proud of you, hun. Run your socks of!! We're with you all the way. Not, of course, in any way that matters, like the running part but the teachers are moving elsewhere.

Yeah give it socks FMC and enjoy every minute! Think of nobody and nothing else but your own reasons for doing it and when you see the walking wounded at 18-20 miles, ignore and keep positive, head up. Where you are, there will be more people behind you than ahead of you. Guzzle lots of water today and stay sitting down.I've just come from the breakfast run and there were lots of Americans there who are the most positive minded people on the planet so stick with some of them if you can. Their supporters got me through a couple of marathons!Enjoy enjoy, I will be in the baggage area thinking about you all the way! You've so much to be proud of.

I hope you can actually sleep tonight, FMC. You are going to be on fire tomorrow ripping through those kilometers like a hot knife through butter. You've come so far and are totally ready.I'm so proud of you and am sending good vibes across the water for you on the big M day.Don't forget to enjoy yourself!

Why Twenty, my goodness - that was almost mushy!! No wonder FMC puts up with you and your grouchiness.

The best of luck to you tomorrow FMC - wind at your back and all that. You don't know us and we don't know you but that doesn't mean you won't be on our minds tomorrow. Save a little strength for blogging please because I know I speak for all of us when I say we'll be pounding the keyboard checking the site for news of the marathon.

as this is your first one, what you need to do is just use ONE ear phone. you can't miss the fantastic atmos. I'll be at 20 mls enviously cheering, all the bravehearts. whatever you do, savour the experience. Its brilliant.GOOD LUCK

Hi FMC! I was at the first water station today, volunteered to hand out water bottles and then clean up after everyone made it through. I was hoping to have a glimpse of you, LOL although I had no idea what you looked like! I felt like yelling FATMAMMYCAT ANYONE??? My God, I have so much respect for people who can do marathons and triathlons and all the sports that require the endurance and patience as such. How did it go? With all the preparation you did I am sure you did wonderfully!Big hugs, I was so excited for everyone racing/running/jogging/walking today.Gx

My name is Dana and I work for "First for Women" magazine. We are looking to do an article about women who, no matter what their shape, are physically fit and able to do things such as run marathons. I found your blog through the Elastic Weight blog, and thought you'd be perfect to speak with. If you are interested and could get back to me, I'd appreciate it! My email is DSquilla@bauerpublishing.com.

About Me

I'm a bouncy, opinionated, messy haired marathon running (!) bibliophile. I wear high heels and have delightful ankles. I'm a devoted drinker. I want a French Bulldog puppy whom I shall call Batman and dress in capes on occasion.
I would also like a pug, whom I shall name Mister Woo. He can remain capeless, but I will make sure he wears a diamante collar at all times.
Both dogs will submit to repeated snorgling and high pitched squeals that only a dolphin would normally tolerate.
I hate Reiki/psychics/mystics/frauds with all my liver. Also, I'm firmly against Jazz and poetry/poems/pomes/ peoms or any of that stuff. I believe in the healing power of ginger.